In mid-February it was reported that the Rangers “coveted” Rick Nash and after he was acquired, Glen Sather talked about how the team wanted to acquire him at the trade deadline but couldn’t strike a deal.

John Tortorella told Blueshirts United that the Rangers knew Nash was the right guy to go for.

“We did some homework on Nash—Richie knows him a little bit, I talked to other players in the league and to coaches that have coached him—and it is the right fit. And it is the right time of his career to be here. I think he has the hunger to get there and become that go-to guy in the playoffs.”

Nash played with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis in the Olympics and he played with Vinny Prospal last season in Columbus. He also played with Mike Rupp and Anton Stralman in Columbus.

Adam Rotter: If the Rangers didn’t think that Nash would be a fit on and off the ice they wouldn’t have pursued him as long as they did. They couldn’t afford to bring in a big time player who wasn’t going to work or conform to the way of doing things “The Right Way.”